Do you want to see Simon Hanselmann in Europe? Get thee to the Kiss Kiss Bank Bank! For only 5 Euros you can get a 'French Kiss' from Simon or you can plunk down for the high-dollar item, a candelit dinner with Simon at Angouleme (let's be real, is there any other kind there?).

Other rewards include signed books, pins and posters. Hanselmann is celebrating the release of his new Misma book, Megg, Mogg & Owl: Magical Ecstasy Trip, printed in French.

The money will get Simon aaaaalllll the way from Australia to Angouleme for the Festival de Bande Dessinee there in addition to some book shop signings in Paris and Toulouse, plus some other expenses. So send them a few dollars turned Euros!

COMICS IN A MOVIE ALERT! FINDING NEIGHBORS is coming to a film festival near you, as soon as this weekend and it's about a cartoonist. There is some Fantagraphics fun sprinkled in here and there so keep your eyes peeled for the Fanta-Look-and-Find. FINDING NEIGHBORS is showing this weekend at the Florida Film Festival in Orlando and the Boston LGBT Film Festival as well as Dallas and California later this month so check their site for more details.

FINDING NEIGHBORS is a comedic drama about Sam Tucker (Oscar® nominee Michael O'Keefe, The Great Santini), a successful stay-at-home graphic novelist, who has hit a mid-life and creative crisis. Six months late on the deadline of his latest novel, Sam has already created turmoil with his publisher after his last book was a disaster. When his therapist wife Mary (Catherine Dent, TV's The Shield) starts to suspect Sam of having an affair with Sherrie (Julie Mond), his provocative and willing next-door neighbor, she's surprised to find out he's actually spending all of his time with a man. Jeff (Blake Bashoff), his gay fellow "housewife" neighbor, is a fan of Sam's published works. As his friendship with Jeff grows and he begins to recapture his creative fire, Sam finds he may be losing the one thing he never doubted: his marriage. Also featuring Sean Patrick Thomas as Jeff's partner, Paul.

A touching film about friendship and confidence, FINDING NEIGHBORS is writer/director Ron Judkins's first feature since his acclaimed The Hi-Line from 1999.

The time to fa-la-la and fill your friends' bookshelves will excellent graphic novels and comics is here! Fantagraphics Books is excited to be participating in the American Express Holiday Pop Up Shop in Seattle's historic Pioneer Square neighborhood. Conveniently located on the corner of Western Ave and University St (55 University St), the AmEx Holiday Pop Up Shop brings local businesses together to showcase a collection of merchandise all under one roof.

Fantagraphics Books will be slinging our wares from December 11th through the 16th. In this time, we will be providing shoppers the opportunity to browse some of our latest releases, plus a few classic favorites. Come on down and pick up a gift for that special someone (but also feel free to spoil yourself with a comic or two). Don't fret, if you can't make it to the Pop Up Shop, you can always find us at the Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery located in the beautiful Georgetown neighborhood.

Larry Reid, manager of the Fantagraphics Bookstore and Gallery was highlighted in the GIFTED insert of the latest issue of The Stranger (Vol. 23, No. 12). He gives you all you need to know about shopping, eating and fun fun fun in Georgetown this holiday season. From The Complete Peanuts collection we're publishing to 'seven-inch slabs by the Stranglers' ("Golden brown, texture like sun...") available in the other half of the store known as Georgetown Records, there is plenty to stuff stockings with, hand over at Channukah or leave on a friend's desk as a secret gift.

We've got music and books at the store but what about holiday movies? Larry recommends:

Critically-acclaimed author Junot Díaz has finally revealed the deluxe edition to his book This Is How You Lose Her and you're just gonna love who added some rockin' illustrations! From his site:

"A must-have collector's edition of Junot Díaz's bestseller and National Book Award finalist, a stunningly designed and illustrated slipcase edition of This Is How You Lose Her, which was a New York Times bestseller and a finalist for the 2013 National Book Award. Jaime Hernandez-deemed 'one of the twentieth century's most significant comic creators' for the 'Love and Rockets' series he co-created and other work-has produced full-page, original illustrations for this edition, one for each story, that perfectly capture the love-haunted spirit of the book and the string of gorgeous, smart, gutsy women whom irresistible, irrepressible Yunior loves and loses."

It's been awhile since I've been a bookseller but I'd definitely have some fun with the displays since Stephen Dixon's His Wife Leaves Him is coming out the same season....

In the interest of fact-finding, we stood in line for free ice cream on our Comic-Con lunch break to confirm that yes, the graphics on the van (and the napkins which were handed out with the ice cream) are indeed by Ben Jones. The dude in the van said that Ben applied the vinyl decals by hand. BJ + B&J to promote Adult Swim (home of The Drinky Crow Show, once and possible future projects from Michael Kupperman, and possibly Ben's show Neon Knome among other fine programs) is brand synergy I can get behind. If I see it again I'll definitely try to get better pictures (and more ice cream).

Above: cover of Amazing Heroes #117, published by Fantagraphics Books, May 1987 (artwork by Tom Yeates, I think; scan from Comic Collectors Live). Below: MJ strip by Paul Hornschemeier from the Wall Street Journal, 2008, as collected in the forthcoming book All and Sundry. Yes, Jackson's cultural influence extends all the way to Fantagraphics.